This glorious Russian city is the recognized cradle of the great Russian navy, the founder of which is Tsar Peter I.
From the history
Once in 1688, young Peter I in one of the outbuildings of the royal estate discovered the old boat "St. Nicholas". Today it is in honorary storage at the Naval Museum in our northern capital. Often, history buffs ask the question: “What is the name of the boat of Peter 1?” So, it was this ship that they later called the "Grandfather of the Russian Navy."
On this boat, the young king began to master the intricacies of controlling a ship on the Yauza River. When the country's navy appeared at the beginning of the 17th century and the first victories were won, the tsar of All Russia ordered the boat to be transported to St. Petersburg and issued a Decree on this subject.
On the Neva and the Gulf of Finland, the boat was solemnly welcomed, including by ambassadors of foreign countries. The great reformer king himself stood at the helm; fleet admirals sat on oars. "The Grandfather of the Russian Navy" was greeted with a cannon fire, drum roll. By decree of Peter was to forever keep the ships on which he began to study maritime affairs.
Amusing flotilla
In 1688, Peter I arrived in Pereslavl and was fascinated by the size and beauty of Lake Pleshcheyev. The sixteen-year-old king decided to build a funny flotilla here.
The best masters were discharged from Holland to study shipbuilding. The young king himself took an active part in the construction of ships.
In the spring of 1689, the first ship was launched, and in the summer of 1692, many ships were already at the shipyard. They were equipped with artillery. On them amusing troops of the sovereign were trained in military operations and navigation.
The death of the amusing fleet
As a result of a severe fire in 1783, all the ships of the flotilla burned down. Only the bot “Fortune” survived, which, according to legend, was built by Peter I. During the fire, he was stored in a room on Mount Gremyach, not far from the Tsar’s Palace, and did not stand on the lake with other ships.
In 1803, I.M. Dolgorukov, the Vladimir governor, ordered the construction of a building in which the Fortuna bot could be stored. From this began the Museum “Boat of Peter 1”, which preserved for posterity and history the ship built by Peter the Great.
What to see in the estate
Today the museum “Boat of Peter 1” (Pereslavl-Zalessky) offers to see the following attractions:
- obelisk to emperor Peter I;
- Botanical house;
- monument to Peter I;
- gatehouse;
- rotunda;
- Triumphal Gate;
- The White Palace.
Today, this magnificent monument of history, architecture, culture is in its historical place. The museum-estate "Boat of Peter 1", which is a branch of the museum-reserve in Pereslavl, is located in a beautiful park near Lake Pleshcheeva (Veskovo village).
Opening of the monument
In early August 1850, the Grand Dukes Mikhail Nikolaevich and Nikolai Nikolaevich, passing Pereslavl and examining the remains of the flotilla, laid a stone in the foundation of a granite monument to Peter I.
Two years later, a triumphal arch was built , which was consecrated in 1852. The top of the arch is decorated with military naval fittings.
In the same year, the architect P. S. Kampioni erected a magnificent monument to Peter I. The residents of Pereslavl and the surrounding villages attended the opening ceremony of the obelisk. In addition, guests arrived from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Vladimir and many other cities.
The 4th battalion of the Jaeger regiment of the city of Uglich and the 2nd battery of the 16th brigade took part in the celebrations. The Maritime Office was represented by Grand Duke M. I. Golitsyn.
On the rise to the museum there is a more “young” monument to Peter I, created in 1992 by the project of A. D. Kazachka. The sculptural composition depicts a young king.
White Palace
Museum "Boat of Peter 1" presents its guests a beautiful palace. It was founded in 1853 and was intended for dinner parties, receptions, balls. The White Palace was built on donations from citizens. To prevent the house from being empty, the nobles and merchants of Pereslavl organized here "Pereslavl assemblies." In the summer, lovers of dancing and card games gathered at the Palace.
After the revolution (1917), the geographical station of Moscow State University was opened in the White Palace. In the thirties, the famous Soviet writer M. Prishvin worked here. In the late twenties Kukryniksy visited the Palace.
At the end of the thirties, a holiday house was opened in the building for employees of local enterprises. During World War II, two orphanages from besieged Leningrad were transferred to the White Palace.
Museum today
In May 2012, the Museum “Boat of Peter 1” was opened after a long reconstruction. The exposition “At the Beginning of Glorious Deeds” was presented to visitors, which covers a long period, from the creation of a fun flotilla until the arrival of Emperor Nicholas II in these places (1913).
The exposition turned out to be very interesting, especially its first hall, where there is a copy of one of the ships of the amusing flotilla, with genuine guns. In addition, it presents objects of the XVII century, which are directly related to the construction of ships. In this room you can see interesting details of the wooden palace of Peter the Great - doors, a watch dial, mica windows, etc.
The second hall of the Museum "Boat of Peter 1" is a reconstruction of one room of the Peter's Palace. Here you can see furniture and utensils from the time of Peter the Great, portraits of the royal dynasty.
The third hall of the museum is dedicated to everyone who took part in the reconstruction and reconstruction of the estate in the 19th century.
Reconstruction of the boat of Peter I
It must be said that many modern masters strive to create a ship from the flotilla of Peter I, using ancient drawings. The boat of Peter 1 was made in Petrozavodsk. The construction was dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the Russian fleet. The creation of the vessel became the original thesis of ten young and talented masters, graduates of the school at the IICC.
The remake of the historic boat, which was created in Petrozavodsk, is an indispensable participant in city holidays.
Rotunda
In the ensemble of the museum, the rotunda is of particular interest and admiration for visitors. She recreates the interior of the Petrine era to the smallest detail . Today, fascinating theater programs and various exhibitions are held in this building. The museum exposition includes details of the vessels of the first Russian fleet - a bronze eagle, a resin boiler, elements of ship's gear, and parts of a clockwork.
Museum "Boat of Peter 1" has been restored for a long time. The Rotunda Hall was desolate. This building was built for receptions. It was created in memory of the great Russian ruler - Peter I. Funds for its construction were raised by the nobles of the Vladimir province.
Today, in the reconstructed building with restored interiors of the Petrine times, which, according to the general opinion of visitors, adorns the Museum “Peter's Boat 1”, a permanent exhibition is being held. It is represented by various works of art in which famous masters immortalized the vivid image of the reformer king. Peter I appears in various images - from the king carpenter to the "Roman emperor", whose head is crowned with a laurel wreath.
Bot "Fortune"
A unique exhibit, which the Peter the Boat 1 Museum in Pereslavl is rightfully proud of, is the Fortuna boat, the last vessel to survive the fire. Judging by the chronicles, the bot was made by the hands of young Peter I. The material used is pine, oak. Its length is 7.34 m. The width of the vessel is 2.38 m. It is a Dutch single-mast ten-boat. In the manufacture of the boat was carefully caulked, coated with resin, and then painted. Management was carried out by a mounted steering wheel, which had an iron tiller.
How to get to the museum
From the capital to get to the museum-estate is quite simple. You must take the regular bus going to Pereslavl-Zalessky (route Pereslavl - Highlands). The museum is waiting for visitors every day from 10.00 to 17.00 hours (except Monday).